Staff Reporter
Zimbabwe and South Africa are set to strengthen cooperation in the correctional services sector, with the two countries expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that could pave the way for eligible prisoners to serve their sentences in their respective home countries.
The agreement is expected to be concluded during the 21 August meeting of the Zimbabwe-South Africa Bi-National Commission, where President Emmerson Mnangagwa will meet his South African counterpart President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi and South African Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald are expected to sign the MoU, which seeks to establish a formal framework for the transfer of prisoners between the two countries.
Under the proposed arrangement, eligible Zimbabwean nationals serving sentences in South Africa could be transferred to correctional facilities in Zimbabwe, while South African prisoners incarcerated in Zimbabwe could similarly be repatriated to their home country.
The development is expected to ease the burden on families separated from relatives serving prison sentences across the Limpopo River, particularly those who struggle to meet the costs of travelling between the two countries.
South African authorities have indicated that research shows many foreign inmates prefer to serve their sentences closer to their home countries, with continued family contact regarded as an important component of rehabilitation.
For Zimbabwean families, the proposed transfer system could make prison visits more accessible while enabling inmates to maintain stronger family ties during their rehabilitation.
However, the agreement will not result in the automatic transfer of all foreign prisoners.
Individual cases will have to satisfy conditions and procedures to be agreed upon by Harare and Pretoria before any transfer is effected.
Beyond prisoner transfers, the MoU is expected to provide for wider cooperation between the two countries’ correctional authorities.
This will include the exchange of information, personnel and technical expertise, institutional visits and sharing of best practices in prison management.
The two countries also intend to strengthen cooperation in agricultural and industrial activities within correctional facilities, with the aim of improving prison self-sufficiency while equipping inmates with skills useful for their reintegration into society.
For Zimbabwe, the proposed cooperation is expected to complement the rehabilitation mandate of the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service, particularly in skills development, productive activities and preparing inmates for life after release.
The participation of South African Police Service National Commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale in the discussions further underscores the wider criminal justice and law-enforcement dimension of the cooperation.
The proposed agreement comes as Zimbabwe and South Africa continue to deepen bilateral relations through the Bi-National Commission, which provides a platform for the two countries to review existing commitments and identify new areas of cooperation.
For Zimbabweans serving prison sentences in South Africa, however, the proposed agreement could have a direct impact on their families by bringing them closer to home and reducing the financial and logistical challenges associated with cross-border prison visits.
